Is distracted driving making Georgia’s roads deadlier?
Unfortunately, Georgia has been seeing more traffic deaths in recent years. Such fatalities went up steadily between 2014 and 2016.
According to state data, the state’s roads saw:
- 1,170 deaths in 2014.
- 1,432 deaths in 2015.
- 1,561 deaths in 2016.
Georgia hasn’t been alone in experiencing this trend. The 2014-2016 period saw a similar trend in Florida.
Why have traffic accidents been on the increase in this part of the United States? Fatal accidents can have a wide range of causes. So, it may not be surprising that a variety of factors have been presented as possible contributors to the traffic fatality numbers Georgia has been seeing.
One thing that some have been pointing to as a major factor in recent traffic fatality trends in the region is distracted driving. There have always been ways drivers can get distracted, but cellphones, particularly smartphones, having expanded the list of distracting things drivers could do at the wheel considerably. From talking on the phone, to texting, to surfing the web, to taking pictures and videos, there are all kinds of things that some drivers decide to do on their phones while driving. When a driver engages in any type of phone-related distraction at the wheel, they can be making the roads a much more dangerous place.
Individuals or families who have had their life thrown upside-down by a distracted driver can seek out guidance on potential options related to compensation from an experienced car crash lawyers.
What advice would you give for avoiding distractions, including those coming from a cellphone, when driving?
Source: The Valdosta Daily Times, “Deadly Roadways: Traffic fatality spike linked to distracted driving,” John Stephen, May 14, 2017